Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 14, 1943)

VOICE. of the

CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE

A

a

INDUSTRY

Vol. 8, No. 16

TORONTO,

APRIL 14, 1943

$2.00 Per Annum

Nova Scotia Admissions Zoom

Ticket Sales Have Doubled
Since Beginning of War

Paid admissions to Nova Scotia theatres last year were
increased over the year before by 2,378,654, it was disclosed
by the annual report of the Nova Scotia Board of Censors.
The total of paid admissions during the fiscal year just ended
———————

Will Try Four
Midweek 12.05s

Permission to hold four Wednes-
day midnight shows for war work-
ers whose hours interfere with
showgoing at the usual time was
granted last week by R. C. Mc-
Mullen, director of the ‘Theatre
and Film Section of the Wartime
Prices and Trade Board. The pro-

(Continued on Page 4)

Theatre Men Hit
Alaskan Trail

Everett C. Ethridge, for 14
years assistant manager of the
Capitol, Edmonton, under Walter
P. Wilson, has been given leave of
absence by Famous Players to en-
gage in theatre management for
the USA services along the Alaska
Highway. He is now at Dawson

(Continued on Page 2)

MGM Cartoon for
Victory Loan

Ottawa has acquired gratis from
MGM the negative of “The Blitz
Wolf,” a cartoon, for use during
the forthcoming Victory Loan.
Several hundred prints in 16 and
35 mm. will be distributed.

Sunday Service Shows
Being Talked Again

A representative from Ottawa
was in Toronto last week to dis-
cuss the possibility of opening a
theatre on Sunday for troop en-
tertainment with the head of one
of Canada’s leading circuits.

It seems that, despite a report
from Ottawa that the military had
yielded to the requests of church
groups and dropped the idea, the
matter of these Sunday shows is
very much alive.

The IATSE has been asked to
provide projectionists.

They Just Can't
Get Together

About three years ago Andy
“Lefty” Sinclair of Empire-
Universal and Roy Lerner of
PRC, close pals, decided to take
a whack at Hitler. Onwilling to
be separated by even such a
stern task, both boys joined the
Royal Canadian Navy.

Every time one lands at the
home port, he goes looking for
the other. But the same thing
has happened all the time. When
one finds the other, it is only to
say good-bye — with barely
enough time for that.

It seems that they’re always
passing each other going in op-
posite directions. As one comes
in the other is embarking for
another crack at the sea wolves.

They both live in hope of
spending a couple of days to-
gether, like other sailor pals.

Theatres Get Games

Vancouver theatres asked the
public to drop in games for the
boys who spend many lonely hours
at Naval outposts or aboard ship.
The Vancouver Women’s Naval
Auxiliary conducted the drive,
which lasted a week.

20th Century Houses

Switch Managers

Twentieth Century Theatres has
announced several changes in its
managerial staff. Steve McManus
leaves the Bayview, Toronto, to re-
place Mel Jolley at the Century,
Trenton, Ont. Jolley moves to the
Marks, Oshawa, taking over from
Bob Berezin, who goes to the
Bayview.

®was 12,480,922. Attendance
at theatres in the leading
Maritime province has more
than doubled since the war.
In 1939 the number of those who
paid their way into motion picture
houses was 5,703,301.

Total revenue received by the
Government from this source dur-
ing the fiscal year amounted to
$312,981 as compared with $274,605
in the previous year, representing
an increase of $38,376 and show-

(Continued on Page 2)

O'Loghlin Re-elected

J. P. O’Loghlin of 20th Century-
Fox was re-elected president of
the Canadian Motion Picture Dis-
tributors Association in Toronto
last week. Leo M. Devaney, RKO,
was re-elected vice-president.

Montreal Film

Veteran Dies

Frank Wamnicker, a Canadian
film veteran whose popularity ex-
tended throughout the Dominion,
died in Montreal last week after
an illness of two years. Highly re-
garded, Warnicker’s long span of
service had reached from distribu-
tion to exhibition. For the last 26

(Continued on Page 2)

Trailer Fights
Show Vandalism

Theatre vandalism, which is in-
creasing every day, has managers
at their wits end trying to find an
effective and graceful means of
combatting it. Managers have no
desire to disturb the enjoyment of
the patrons by ejecting or arrest-
ing vandals at work but would

: (Continued on Page &)

Single Bills On Way
Sure As Shootin’

The impending reduction of the number of features to be
issued by Hollywood, a consequence of the manpower and
raw stock shortage, has some of Canada’s leading exhibitors
thinking hard. The double bill will be affected. The patron,
a

Montreal Exhibs Fined

Joseph Cytrynbaum, proprietor
of the Majestic Theatre, Montreal,
with Mrs. Bertha Adler, was fined
$10 by Judge J. C. Langlois for
allowing patrons to stand in the
aisles, passages and corridors of
the house.

Midtown Fire Drill

Midtown, Toronto, was the scene
of a fire drill and lecture con-
ducted by Inspector Waterman.
Many managers attended from
other theatres.

it is expected, will accept more
single bills in friendly fash-
ion. This lack of resentment,
however, is no guarantee that
he will retain the same marked in-
terest in motion picture entertain-
ment. That’s why the knitted
brows among exhibitors.

Unless steps are taken almost
immediately to accustom the pub-
lic to less reelage for its money, a
sharp clash between the public’s
expectations and the industry’s
ability to meet them. is inevitable.
An overall policy of single bills,

(Continued on Page 2)

IT’S A FURLOUGH OF FUN—JIVE, SONGS AND MUSIC—ANOTHER TREAT FROM UNIVERSAL!

‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home’

And what a cast!—Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, Gloria Jean and Spitalny’s Hour of Charm All-Girl Orchestra,

Vol. 8, No. 16

Address all communications—The Managing Editor,
Canadian Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada.

Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., Sth Floor, 21 Dundas Square,
Toronto, Ont., Canada. Phone ADelaide 4310, Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year.

Entered as Second Class Matter

Coming: Single Bills

That erratic old chicken, the double bill, is coming

home to roost.

After being fought over for several years a cut in the
number of future double bills is a certainty in the near
future. Each company has sliced its production schedule.

In the past almost every exhibitor association has gone
on record against the double bill. They wanted a returm to
the policy of the past. The double bill has been attacked
by motion picture critics. USA officials were against it be-
cause it took up running time that could be used for shorts

that bear on the war effort.

Against the wishes of the anti-dualers stood one im-
movable defence—Public Opinion. Every poll of the public
on the subject that we can remember showed that the
great majority wanted double bills.

The public, then, is not prepared to accept the single
bill at the moment. If it is sprung suddenly there will be a
sense of being short-changed. The effects may be bad on

the boxoffice.

Exhibitors must start weaning the public off the double
bill now, while there is still time. Good pictures must stand
up alone. Additional exploitation must be underiaken to
keep curiosity about films alive in the minds of the patrons.
Shoris must be selected with care.

Exhibitors must prepare for the uncertainties of the

future.

SINGLE BILLS

(Continued

sprung suddenly on the customers,
is likely to meet with a reception
detrimental to the boxoffice.

The possibility of this should be
studied now and experimentation
begun. Movie tastes being varied
according to locality and type of
patronage, each exhibitor will have
to work out his own policy. In the
past most exhibitors ran double
bills as often as product made
them available. In the course of
the season there are many pictures
which can stand up by themselves.
These will have to be tried now as
single bills. There’s no doubt, too,
that additional exploitation will
have to be undertaken to keep
public curiosity up to par.

Famous Players has practiced a
policy in some situations which

was found satisfactory. Certain |
houses have played double bills)

every show day but Saturday. The
Saturday bill retained the strong-
est feature. The public was per-
fectly happy with one feature,

since it was enabled to get in more |

quickly.

Exhibitors would be well advised |
to try proved attractions as single

bills, doubling up when there is
rome doubt as to the ability of
certain attractions to draw. The
dose of single bills, built up with

from Page 1)
the support of good shorts, can be
increased until a marked differ-
| ence in policy is the case—without
| the public being particularly aware
of this.

One thing is certain—single bills
are on the way back. Whether
Ottawa or the industry treats the
question of diminishing product is
up to the industry. By accustom-
ing the public to fewer features
there will be no need of a govern-
ment ruling to make the change
more acceptable.

A Puzzle

“In Which We Serve”’ played to
1,239 people in four days at the
Rex, Claresholm, Alberta. Town
has population of 1,100 and thea-
tre seatage is 360.

Coyle Heads St. Kitts

Managers’ Group

Leo Coyle, Granada, St. Catha-
rines, Ont., has been elected presi-
dent of the newly-formed Theatre
Managers’ Association of that
town. Ken Craig, Capitol, is secre-
tary. St. Catharines' managers
have used a lot of teamwork for
the war effort and the association
is a natural outcome.

April 14, 1948
‘2 H¥E BOSSIN, Managing Bditor

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

N.S. Admissions
Hop Way Up

(Continued from Page 1)
ing an increase over the pre-war
year of 1939 of $125,343.

The amount collected during the
year under the Fire Prevention
Act was $15,755, an increase of
$2,149, This sum represents five-
eighths of one per cent of the pre-
miums paid to fire insurance com-
panies and forms part of the gen-
eral revenue of the province to
meet the cost of administration of
fire prevention.

With respect to fire prevention
measures in theatres and places of
amusement, the report states:
“Where found necessary in order
to ensure further safety to the pa-
trons, the seating was re-arranged
so as to provide for more aisle
space, fire extinguishers were care-
fully checked and in many thea-
tres furnaces were enclosed in
separate fire-proof enclosures.”

Theatre Men Hit
Alaskan Trail

(Continued from Page 1)
Creek.

Ethridge is the second Canadian
theatre man to hit the big trail.
Victor Armand, supervisor of
building construction for FPC, left
earlier.

Jack Sherman, long-time ticket-
taker at the Capitol, succeeded
Ethridge, who at one time man-
aged Edmonton's Empire Theatre.

Opening of theatres at Dawson
Creek, Whitehorse and Fairbanks
has been arranged for the U.S.
services. A temporary building is
being utilized at Dawson Creek
until a permanent structure is
erected. New theatres are expected
to be built at Whitehorse and
Fairbanks. Each is expected to
seat from 500 to 750 patrons.

The theatres are for the enter-
tainment of members of various
U.S. services. Films will be pro-
vided from a distributing depot at
Calgary.

Hamilton United
Shows Marked Gain

Sharp gain shows for Hamilton
United Theatres, Ltd., with 1942
net profit of $46,340, equal to $8.33
a share on 5,562 shares of 7 per
cent preferred stock of $100 par
(in arrears as to dividends). This
compares with net of $38,076, or
$5.83 a share on 6,529 preferred
shares outstanding at the end of
the previous year.

Report shows current assets of
$177,367 and current liabilities of
$52,152, leaving net working capi-
tal of $125,215, compared with
$158,876 at the previous year-end.

®

April 14, 1948

| Montreal Film
Veteran Dies

(Continued from Page 1)
years he was connected with Un-
ited Amusements in a managerial
capacity, having opened the Re-
gent and Papineau theatres, Mon-
treal, for them. Until he became
ill he had managed the Strand,
Montreal, for 20 years.
Warnicker started in the film
business with the old Mutual
Films, shifting later to the World
Films as a booker. From here he
joined United Amusements,. re-
maining with them until illness
caused him to retire from activity.
A native of Liverpool, England,
where he was born in 1880, he
came to Montreal at an early age.
His death brought many expres-
sions of regret, not only from film
people, but from Quebec sporting
circles. He was active as a sports
executive, particularly in hockey.
His wife, the former Clemence
Perron, and a sister, Mrs. John
Bathgate of Vancouver, B.C., sur-
vive him.

Canada Year Book

The Department of Trade and
Commerce, through the Dominion
Bureau of Statistics, has issued
the official handbook, “Canada
1943.”

This invaluable guide to Can-
adea’s growth as a nation contains
chapters on population, production,
agriculture and anything a think-
ing Canadian wants to know.

SUPERIOR
FILMS

Now Releasing
The New Streamlined

Version

Two of the Greatest
Films of All Times

SCARFACE

UU UU enn

Featuring Paul Muni, George
Raft and Boris Karloff

*
SKY DEVILS

SPENCER TRACEY

*

Everything New—
Advertising, Lobby Displays,
ete,

*

|
cael

rr

VOL. 1

iTS ALWAYS
FAIR WEATHER
WHEN GOOD
SHOW MEN
AND GOOD
SHOWS GET
TOGETHER!

(ADVT.)

RECORDS IN
“RHYTHM”

“Star Spangled Rhythm”
continues to smash ideas of
what good pictures will do.
Tho Capitol, Halifax, and the
Capitcl, Windsor, are two

houses that did sensational
business with this outstand-

ing Paramount filmusical.
The run of “Rhythm” in both
these centres outgrossed such
pictures as “Road to Mo-
rocco,” “Reap the Wild
Wind” and “Holiday Inn.”

“Star Spangled Rhythm”
continues to do 50-100%
better business than any
previous Hope or Crosby
picture. That indicates
“Rhythm” at the register.

William Bendix, Loretta Young and Alan Ladd as they
appear in Paramount's topical new picture, “China.” This js Alan
Ladd’s last appearance before joining the colors.

‘Lucky Jordan’

\Gpramounl SIUC

The Lowdown on the Production and Distribution of the Best Shows in Town!

Rings the Bell

For Lucky Canadian Exhibitors

Alan Ladd in “Lucky Jordan” is doing the kind of business

that is anything but “lucky.’

’ “Jordan” is doing the most

solid kind of business seen in the Dominion in some time.

It’s the kind of reception that

Cordova, Lamour
To Co-Star

Arturo de Cordova, Mexican star
now appearing opposite Luise
Rainer in “Hostages,” was handed
another stellar assignment by Ex-
ecutive Producer B. G. De Sylva,
who announced that de Cordova
will co-star with Dorothy Lamour
in “A Medal for Benny,” original
screen story by John Steinbeck
and Jack Wagner which Para-
mount will film shortly.

De Cordova will play a Paisano
youth who lives in California’s
Fresno country made famous in
Steinbeck’s stories.

the picture has been receiving
in the States from San Fran-
jcisco to Boston—just plain
phenomenal.

And most of the success
for the picture stacks up at the
front door of a certain young man
who's in the picture. Hotter than
a tommy gun he carries in his
next picture, “China’’; hotter,
much hotter, than that mean pis-
tol he toted in his first Paramount
picture, “This Gun for Hire”—
that’s Alan Ladd!

That is why he is the greatest
asset, from the sales and exploita-
tion angles, that his current pic-
ture, “China,” possesses. Co-
starred in this highly spectacular
and exciting production with Lor-
etta Young, Ladd's work in his
last picture for the duration scin-
tillates like the brightest star in
the firmament.

You all know how he gripped
the public’s attention in “This Gun
for Hire.” You know what a sen-
sation he was in the “Glass Key.”
And you'll know by this time what
he has meant all across the Do-
minion in “Lucky Jordan.”

But there is something per-
haps you do not know. Alan Ladd
was recently voted tops in popu-
larity with both sexes in a poll
conducted in one of the leading
fan magazines.

x

Bracken and Lamb
New Comedy Team

Eddie Bracken, whose fan fol-
lowing Increased tremendously
because of his performance in
“Star Spangled Rhythm,” this
year’s leading boxoffice hit, will

Technicolor comedy with its
background in the South Pacific.

be starred with Gil Lamb in }
“Rainbow Island,” a spectacular |

EXTRA
patil hate =
PLAYING TIME IS
THE ORDER OF
THE DAY WITH
PARAMOUNT
PRODUCT!

ote rn eee

NO. 10

Alan Ladd Hottest Picture Bet in °43

neers tete aI SAS teeta AIRS

E had

WILLIAM BENDIX.

Bendix Gets
Top Rating

After turning in exceptionally
fine portrayals in “The Glass Key”
and “Wake Island,” William Ben-
dix comes into his own in “China,”
drama dealing with an American
civilian’s adventures in war-torn
China before and after Pearl Har-
bour. The title gets its derivation
from the banding of a couple of
American oil salesmen with vali-
ant Chinese guerrillas to rescue a
pair of American missionaries and
a large group of Chinese children
from the Japanese.

Bendix is superb in the role of
Johnny Sparrow, American truck
driver. The other leading roles
are interpreted by Loretta Young
and Alan Ladd.

William Bendix came to Canada

ilast wéek and during an all too

brief stay made many, many
friends. He is a very likeable chap,
most unlike the Bendix in the
“Glass Key.”

Coming to Montreal from New
York, he was present at a screen-
ing of “China” for the press at the

Bracken is one of the stellar | Mount Royal Hotel, after which he
galaxy in “Happy Go Lucky” | sat in with them for luncheon. In
and also co-stars in “The Miracle | Toronto he was entertained at a
of Morgan’s Creek.” ' broadcast, screening and luncheon,

Page 4

, Releasing

The Reigning Star

Robert
Donat

Count
of
Monte
Cristo

with

Elisa Landi, Louis Calhern,

Sydney Blackmer and Ray-

mond Walburn in Alexander
Dumas’ immortal story

*

ROBERT DONAT

The Ghost
Goes West

Screen play by
Robert E. Sherwood
Produced by
Sir Alexander Korda

*
ROBERT DONAT

and Charles Laughton, Merle
Oberon, Elsa Lanchester and
Binnie Barnes in
Private Life
of Henry Vill

Directed by
Sir Alexander Korda

*

CURRENT AND
TIMELY HITS

Secrets of a Coed
Night for Crime
Baby Face Morgan
Tomorrow We Live

k

Producers Releasing
Corporation

Executive Offices:
277 Victoria St., Toronto, 2, Ont.

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

with Hye rhe

{ jonTes quare

ee Al Won — Medal

You may remember reading here or in your daily paper that
Flight-Lieut. Albert E. Glazer of the RCAF was awarded the
Distinguéshed Flying Cross recently. Al, formerly of the mana-
gerial staff of Premier Operating, is the son of Sam Glazer of
Columbia. Only 24 now, he enlisted in September, 1940, and has
had three birthdays overseas.

The official citation, which accompanied the award, has now
become public. It reads:

‘In the course of a large number of sorties this officer has
performed excellent work, although a majority of them have been
executed at night in all sorts of weather. He was instrumental
in the destruction of an enemy vessel of some 10,000 tons off the
coast of Sicily.

“Again on the night of December 12, 1941, he participated in
an operation which resulted in the destruction, by H. M. ships, of
two Itallan cruisers off the North Africa coast. His courage and
devotion to duty are worthy of the highest praise.”

Flight Lieut. Glazer was mentioned in despatches in the New
Year’s Honor List of His Majesty the King.

He’s an honor graduate of the University of Toronto in the
class of '39. When Al found that his knowledge was of importance
in those crucial days he joined right up. Since then he has been
entitled to a long furlough home but passed it up to stay in the
fight.

Sam’s son has been a busy boy since he donned air force blue.
He went through almost 3,000 bombings on the Island of Malta.

* * *

Bits of News

George Hatch, who used to be your air conditioning engineer,
is now working for Henry Kaiser in California. ... Norm Martin,
who was in Columbla’s Calgary office before he joined the RCAF,
visited New York and was shown a grand time by the folks at
the home office of the company. .:. . Jim Dunn, old time vaude-
ville actor who appeared on the same bills as George M. Cohan in
other days, is now doorman at the Eglinton. ... When the gen-
erator of the Broadview quit working recently the kids’ matinee
was stopped. So Manager Curly Posen, who used to be a comedian,
got up on the stage and entertained until he was blue in the face.
Curly, who is Mr. 5x5 himself, was a great hit with the kids until
he ran out of songs and sayings. So he lined the youngsters up
and marched them around to the nearby Crown Theatre to finish
the matinee. The line grew between the two theatres, every
passing youngster joining it to see a free show!

* x

Trials and Tribulations

The manpower shortage has caused many theatres to use boys
as ushers and whatnots. Over at the Broadway they have a
bright, hard-working lad of 15 who had a very hard Saturday.
At the end of the evening he stuck his head into Manager Morrie
Sasloff’s office and sighed: ‘My mother told me there would be
nights like this!”
* i

Bendix Is a Nice Guy

Win Barron of Paramount had William Bendix around
Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa for a couple of days in each town
to help build Bill and “China.” Bendix went well with the boys
and girls, he being a right guy type, and the absence of ham on
his part having nothing to do with the meat shortage.

Toronto folks gathered in the Green Room backstage at
Eaton’s Auditorium, after looking at a screening of “China,” Ken
Soble and Harvey Dobbs lined up Bendix, Monica. Mugan, Mona
Clark and others for his “Did I Say That?” Alkaseltzer broadcast,
the winnings of the answerers going to the Red Cross.

Monica Mugan got the most laughs when she confessed an
earlier conversation between her and Bendix. She congratulated
Bendix on his fine work in “Dr. Cyclops.”

“Wasn't in it,” said Bll:

Monica, however, did score for two bucks by naming two of
Bill’s recent pictures,

April 14, 1943

r Will Try Four

Midweek 12.05s

(Continued from Page 1)

grams, which will take place at
the Orpheum Theatre, Toronto,
were allowed so that a study
might be made of their effect.

The question of recreation for
war workers has bothered the gov-
ernment since the war began. Re-
moved from the customary rou-

tine of daily life, the increasing
boredom of all work and no play
has led to a lowering of morale
and the growth of absenteeism.
Apparently plant recreational ac-
tivities cannot provide completely
for the harmless use of leisure
time.

The Workers Educational Asso-
ciation, along with church and
civic groups, has interested itself
and the midweek 12.05s are part
of an endeavour to maintain mor-
ale and fight absenteeism. The
theatre, located near a large plant,
will be rented by a committee of
workers, who have promised to ad-
mit only members of their 4 p.m.
to 12 p.m. shift. They will staff the
house and present turns from
among the workers.

If successful during the tryout
period, the midnight show may be
allowed everywhere in Canada at
convenient times and theatres.

R. C. McMullen, Minister of La-
bor Humphrey Mitchell, Mayor
Conboy of Toronto and a number
of others have interested them-
selves in the matter of entertain-
ment for war workers. Ottawa, it
is felt, would be glad to endorse
anything that can contribute to a
solution.

There will be a conference at
the Royal York Hotel, Toronto, on
April 18th under the auspices of
the Workers Educational Associa-
tion, at which every phase of rec-
reation will be examined.

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Make way for

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the fastest growing company
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box-office hit after another.

SILVER SKATES

tops all ice revues, booked by
all leading circuits and theatres

DAWN ON THE
GREAT DIVIDE

made big—it is big, the screen’s
thundering covered-wagon epic

RHYTHM PARADE

a musical cocktail with the
most gorgeous girls in the
world—it is box-office—music
with the Mills Brothers, Ted
Fio Rito and his orchestra,
and the entire Earl Carroll
Hollywood Revue

Four East Side
Kid Productions

definitely box-office dynamite,
a perfect week-end attraction

*

Coming Soon

sensation of the year

| ESCAPED FROM
THE GESTAPO

Mary Brian, Dean Jagger,
John Carradine

SARONG GIRL

Ann Corio, Johnny (Scat)
Davis and his band, Tim and
Irene, radio favorites.

MONOGRAM
PICTURES

Toronto, Montreal, St. John
Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver

Canadian FILM WEEKLY

April 14, 1948

House of Commons {Trailer Fights
Talks Movies

The condition of the motion picture theatre business in
Canada was the subject of some interesting discussion in the
House of Commons recently. The give-and-take arose when
John R. MacNicol (Davenport) revealed that he was under

the impression that the in-
crease of the amusement tax
on the price of admission to
“certain places of entertain-
ment” applied also to motion
picture theatres. The Hon. James
L. Ilsley, Minister of Finance, as-
sured Mr. MacNicol that movie
houses would not be affected by
the tax raise from 20 to 25 per
cent.

“I hope the minister pays no
attention to the pleas of the mo-
tion picture people,’ said Thomas
Reid (New Westminster). ‘‘Every-
one of them is making money.”

This drew a reply from George
J. Tustin (Prince Edward-Lennox),
formerly a theatre operator, who
pointed out that quite a number
of small theatres have gone out of
business. “I did not particularly
object to the tax in the larger
centres where there is a great deal
of war work and a great number
of soldiers are stationed,” said Mr.
Tustin, “but there are many small
centres in Ontario where there is
no war work, where no soldiers are
stationed, and theatres in such
places are under a great handicap.”

Mr. Tustin suggested theatres in
small places, where there is but
one in a town, should be given
some consideration. “It is the only
place of recreation that a great
many people have and, as he (Mr.
Isley) said himself, the difficulty
has increased now that cars can-
not get gasoline. The theatre is,
therefore, left to depend entirely
upon the population of the small
town.”

Mr. MacNicol, in introducing the
subject, paid tribute to the benefit
of motion pictures.

“What I have seen and heard,”
he said, “convinces me that picture
shows are doing splendid work, in
the middle of a very serious war,
to maintain the morale of the peo-

Another Blast at
Sunday Show Idea

Asserting the practice of theatre
operation on Sunday is, in most
cases, “racketeering under the
name of patriotism,” Rev. A. Ross
Skinner, field secretary of the
Lord’s Day Alliance, warned
against what he termed a “danger-
ous situation.” He said if theatres
are allowed to open on Sundays
now the way will be paved for an
undesirable post-war practice.

The statement was made before
the meeting of the Toronto Pres-
bytery last week.

ple. I know no other agency effec-
tive for this purpose. On Satur-
day afternoons large numbers of
children with thelr mothers go to
see the shows, and seemingly it
strengthens these women to carry
on the work they are doing while
their husbands are away in the
army.”

Mr. Isley, replying to a question
from Mr. MacNicol, said the 20
per cent tax on picture houses has
had no adverse effect, though he
admitted that some had been af-
fected by causes other than tax,
such as gasoline rationing and
population shrinkage.

“Even in the province of Que-
bec,” stated the Finance Minister,
“which unlike Ontario has a very
large provincial tax, perhaps 15
per cent, making a total, if I am
correct in that figure, of some-
thing like 35 per cent, admissions
have gone up considerably since
we put the tax on.”

Split Decision In
Dismissal Case

W. H. Smith, suing Twinex
Century Theatres and Famous
Players for alleged wrongful dis-
missal from his post as manager
of the Tivoli, Kingston, received a
judgment against Famous Players
from Mr. Justice Chevrier but
failed in the case against Twinex.

The judgment stated: “. .. The
onus is on the plaintiff to estab-
lish a right of action against Tay-
lor and against Twinex; in that he
has hopelessly failed both as to
facts and on the law... . The
plaintiff's action against Taylor
and Twinex is therefore dismissed,
and with costs if exacted.... I
find as a fact that the plaintiff
was at all times during his em-
ployment well aware that the
mode of employment was only on a
weekly basis. ... The plaintiff is
therefore entitled to judgment
against Famous Players for four
additional weeks’ salary at the
rate of $40 per week, and further
to the profits, if any, accrued dur-
ing that period under the terms of
the manager's profit-sharing plan.
. .. The plaintiff will be paid his
costs on a Division Court scale
without set-off.”

W. F. Nickle, K.C., and C. M.
Smith acted for Smith; J. Singer,
K.C., for N. A. Taylor and Twinex;
and J. M. Bullen, K.C., for Famous
Players,

Show Vandalism

(Continued from Page 1)

like to make them see the error
of their ways. One manager re-
ports that the most effective
method in his house is to have a
policeman walk up and down the
aisles several times during the
performance.

The Motion Picture Theatres As-
sociation of Ontario, through Sec-
retary Syd Taube, has been check-
ing on the individual efforts of
theatre men and hopes to find
some helpful practices. He has re-
ceived the wording of two trailers,
each presented against a back-
ground of Uncle Sam pointing at
the audience, from a USA ex-
hibitor. It might be adapted for
Canadian uses. They are printed
below.

TRAILER COPY ‘A’ A

NO PATRIOTIC CITIZEN
would knowingly destroy property
when conservation is so IMPORT-
ANT to the WAR EFFORT... .-
Yet some one has been cutting the
seats in this theatre. Surely that
person has not realized that his
action is grossly UNAMERICAN!

Certainly he will stop now that
we have pointed out how UN-
PATRIOTIC such destruction is.

TRAILER COPY ‘B’

VANDALISM IS TREASON!

Don’t destroy our irreplacable
theatre equipment! Aside from
every other reason. ... It is defi-
nitely Unpatriotic to...

Deface Walls
+ Burn Carpets
Tear Seats

Be a good citizen and Patriot!

Help us keep our theatre in good
condition to conserve Vital Ma-
terials for WAR!

Plenty of "Pimperel’

B & F has booked “The Scarlet
Pimpernel,” reissued through PRC,
in 12 situations.

Sunday Show Fine

Walter R. Golding, proprietor of
the Community Theatre, West St.
John, N.B., was fined $10 last
week by Magistrate Palmer in city
police court on the charge of carry-
ing on the regular business of the
theatre on a Sunday in violation
of the Lord’s Day Act.

Theatre Fine Raised
After Bureau's Appeal

A fine of $25 and costs, imposed
for overcrowding upon T. McCoy,
manager of the Capitol, Guelph,
Ont.,.was raised to $75 in the local
police court. The Ontarlo Theatre
Inspection Department appealed,
claimed that the magistrate who
tried the case first had been too
lenient.

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!

N WARTIME, your position as a busi-

ness or industrial executive places a new
and grave responsibility on your shoulders.
In the coming Victory Loan your purchase
of bonds will set an example for your
associates and for many who do business
with you.

Because the National War Finance Com-
mittee recognizes these facts, it is believed
that you should know the aims and objects
of the forthcoming loan and what the
responsibility of Canadian citizens will be
toward it,

First, the 4th Victory Loan will have the
highest objective of any war loan in our
history.

Second, more people—men, women and

children — will have to make victory bond
purchases in order to reach the objective.
Third, bond buyers generally, will have to
stretch their resources a point further and
buy their bonds in larger denominations.

So plan now, in these weeks prior to the
opening of the 4th Victory Loan, to buy
larger Victory Bonds for yourself or for
your business; and to extend your personal
victory bond purchases to include all mem-
bers of your family.

In this way, you will not only discharge
your personal obligation to Canada’s war
effort to the best of your financial ability,
but also, by example you will discharge the
obligation which settles on the shoulders of
the nation’s executives during wartime,

NATIONAL WAR FINANCE COMMITTEE

“tt ALL TIME

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Imagine! 7 grand song hits
—played by 3 of your fav-
-orite hands—sung by stars —
you love,..against a spec- .
tacular background of girls \\\os,
NS >
—romance — comedy! Its Yas 4
-the show of a lifetime!

JOHN SUSAN

CARROLL: HAYWARD.

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Jack WILLIAMS, (the Harlem Sandman) « Dorothy © Bi
DANDRIDGE « POPS & LOUIE > The MUSIC MAIDS y i

The THREE CHEERS - CHINITA 4
The GOLDEN GATE QUARTETTE

FREDDY MARTIN and his ORCH.
COUNT BASIE and his ORCH.
RAY McKINLEY and his ORCH.

"ALBERT S, ROGELL, Director » Original Scregn Play by Frank Gill, Jr,

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FOR EASTER RELEASE IN CANADA THROUGH
EMPIRE-UNIVERSAL EXCHANGES